Grass-scorcher.



B. c. RUSSELL. GRASS SCORCHER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1- l 9I6-- Patented Apr. 17,1917,

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BY nrronutrs I I I Bur/CR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

mm C. RUSSELL, OF wmrmnn,

elem

1,223,115. m mm mm Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

Application filed June 7, 1916. Serial lfo. 102,197.

To all whom it may concern: chain, is connected wit] 1 the rear of the plate Be it known that I Bum: C. Rnssann, a citizen of the United of Winfield, in the county of Cowley and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in- Grass-Searchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in grass scorchers and has for its object to provide a machine of the character specified, for scorching and killin grass and the like, in newly mown alfa fa fields, from which the crop has been removed, without injurin .the alfalfa. A further object is to provide mechanism capable of ready ad ustment for controlling the flames from a series of burnerswithin a narrow prescribed area whereby to; prevent the prolonged of the grass to the flames with a resultant firing of the same and consequent injury to ".he alfalfa crop.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the im- )lOVBd machine with parts broken away,

Figs. 2] and 3 are sections on the line 2-2 nd 3-3 respectively, each view looking in he direction of the arrows adjacent to the he, and

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section irough one of the guideways.

The present embodiment of the invenon is shown in connection with a wheel lpported'main frame 1 of substantially ictan lar form, having wheels 2 at the [(18 t ereof, and having a tongue 3 at the nter of the front for drawing the machine .rough the field.

An auxiliary frame consisting of side bars and a connecting rear end 'bar 5 is sup- .rted by the mam frame, the end bars 4 ing hinged to the main frame at their mt and upper ends as indicated at 6. A

ite 7 of sheet iron or the like, covers the )nt or under side of the auxiliary frame,

d a draft opening is provided in this tte, the opening being provided with a )r or damper 8 hinged to the auxiliary .me for regulating the size of the open- Standards 9 are connected with the 2 bars 4 near their upper ends, and a er plate 10 is hinged to the standard, the

er-plate closing the rear or upper face of auxiliary frame, and providing with the at plate 7, a closed chamber in which the ners are arranged.

. flexible member 11, as for instance 9.

states, and a resident rear of the auxiliary 10, and this chain is adapted to engage a hook I? on the main frame, for holding the plate in adjusted position. It will be noticed from an inspection of Fig. 2 that the rear of said plate irarched transversely, and the burners to be later described, are mounted 1n the compartment formed in the auxilia ners 13 is connected with the rear lower end of the auxiliary frame. the said runners bemg spaced '9. art and e xtending rearwardly, and being apted to 1un upon the ground, and a front plate liisarranged transversel of the auxiliary frame at the said rear en the lower edge of the plate resting on the runners. A rear plate 1.5 is supported parallel with the plate 14 iear the rear of the runners, and inclined plates 16 connect the plates 14 and 15. 1

These plates 16 are a rranged as shown in Figs. 1 3, the said plates being arranged at approximately right angles with respect to each other and hav ing their planes inchned also. Thus a renes of burning or scorching compartments is rovided extending transversely of the mam frame and the auxiliary frame, the alternate compartments ha their a} ices forward, while the intermediate compartments have their apices rearward. Thee compartments are open at their tops and at their bottoms, and m addition to serving as division members for the compartments, the plates 14,15 and ,16 are agitators for a itatmg the grass Means is also provi ed for adjusting the fra me, said means comprising a lever 17 plv'ote d to the mainframe, and having latch mechanism cofiperating with a toothed quadrant 19 on the frame, and the lever has an an gular arm 20 which is connected b a link 21. with the rear plate 15 of the a 'ary fran e. By means of the lever the rear end of the auxiliary frame may be raised or lowere l-with respect to the main frame.

A carriage 22 is mounted to travel on the auxiliary frame toward and from the burner compartments, the said carriage having channeled guide membe: s 23 which have internal ribs 24 on their side walls engaging in grooves in the sides (f the guide bars 25, secured to the auxiliary frame. The upper feces of the guide bars 25 are channeled as shown at 26, and a series of balls 27 is arranged in each channel, 'the guide members frame. A series of shoes or runto the tank by a flexible hose 32. A discharge ipe 33 leads rearwardly from the under side ofthe tank, and connects at its lower end with a' cross pipe which supports the burners. This cross pipe is supported by angular lugs 3-l extending upwardly and rearwardly from the carriage, and the said pipe is composed of a series of PS 35 arranged in alinement and connected by threaded nipples 36. A burner-'37 is connected with the lateral branch of each T,

and the discharge end of each burner is directly above one of the compartments formed between the plates 14, Iii-and 16 delivering through the said compartment.

Each burner is provided with controlling meansindicated at 38, and the carriage is moved on the auxiliary frame by means of a lever 39, which is pivoted to a toothed quadrant 40 on the main frame, and the lever has latch mechanism 41 cooperating with the quadrant to hold the lever in position. At its lower end a link 42 connects the lever with the carriage, and it will be evident that by means of the lever, the carriage may be adjusted on the auxiliary frame. A cut off valve 43 is interposed in the length of the feed pipe for the burners, and an operating rod 44 is connected with the rod for operating the same, the rod extending into position to be grasped by the operator on the main frame. 8 is hinged at its front or upper edge to the auxiliarv frame, so that when open it depends in front of the opening 6 to prevent the direct passage of airto the burner.

The plates 7 and 10 are wind shields, and by means of the lever 39 the burners may be brought nearer to or farther away from the grass to be burned, to regulate the degree of burning of the same.

In operation, when it is desired to burn th grass, the parts are arranged as shown in Fig. 2, the wind-shield 10 being adjusted to provide the proper amount of air in conjunction with the damper 8. When the p01 tion 1415--16 of the auxiliary frame passes over the grass, the plates 16, as well as the plates 14 and 15, will separate the short grass exposing it to the quickly passing flame at different angles, and in addition exposing the young grass between and below the high growth which otherwise would immediately take the place of the scorched grass. In practice, without some The damper device of this character, the tenacious densely growing grasses such as foxtail, crab grass, and false red-top, can hardly be thoroughly exposed in the necessarily brief time they are under the flames.

As is known, the grass seeds germinate in the spring when the alfalfa has started and before it is large enough to cover the ground. In a month to six weeks, the alfalfa is perhaps two feet in height and will yield a crop of clean hay having the'heaviest foliage of the year. \Vhen this shade is removed, the grass already started has been growing so brief a length of time, that it as not greatly suffered, and as a rule it will be just high enough to eseape the mower. The-sickle of the mower soon becomes dull in cutting the woody stems of the alfalfa and will brush over grass five inches in height with very little cutting. It is now that the grass will spring up faster than the alfalfa unless its growth is checked. This grass having grown until now under disadvantageous circumstances, will be leafless, straight, slcnder and dense, but not mattedas would ,be the case had it grown in the open where the blades would have rown broad andrank and leaves would ave put forth)?" It is obvious that the high grass under these conditions, will serve to shield the shorter grass beneath from the quickly passing flame. for a separating agitating means to permit the flames to reach the undergrowth and to thoroughly expose the stems as they spring up under the brushing of the agitator. Furthermore, the arrangement of the burners in separate compartments localizes the flame from each burner on the direct part to be treated, and prevents injury to "the alfalfacrowns through which the agitater is passing. Furthermore, the arrangement of the auxiliary frame supported on the runners, lifts the burners in passing over obstructions, as for instance stones, tree roots and the like.

It will be noticed from an inspection of the drawings, that the flame from each burner strikes on the inclined front plate of the agitator and on the forward apices of the alternate triangular compartments, and the point of contact is convexed slightly to distribute the flame in a sheet.

What I claimfis:

1. A device of the character specified comprising a wheel supported main frame,'an auxiliary frame hinged at the front of the main frame beneath the same and having shoes or runners at its rear end adapted to run upofl the ground, a pair of plates at the rear of the auxiliary frame and connected therewith, said plates being parallel with the plane of the frame and with each other, and spaced apart and connected by inclined Hence will be seen the necessity v connecting plates dividing the space between the first named plates intq a series of substantially triangular compartments open at their to and bottom, the alternate compartments aving their apices forward and the intermediate compartments having their apices rearward, a carnage mounted to move on the auxiliary frame toward and from the compartments, and supporting a burner for each compartment, said burners being in alinement transversely of the frames, 7 a

source of supply for .fuel under pressure'on for clos' 20.

1 f prising *a wheel supported main frame, an

1 ,auxihary frame hinged at the front of the main frame beneath the same and having shoes or runners at its rear end adapted to run upon the ground, a pair of plates at the rear of the auxiliary frame and connected therewith, said lates being parallel with the plane-of the frame and with each other,

and spaced apart" and" connected by inclined connecting p ates dividing the space between the first named plates into a series of substantially triangular compartments open at their to and bottom, the alternate compartments aving their apices forward and the intermediate compartments having their apices rearward, a carriage mountedto move on. the auxiliary frame toward and from the compartments, and supporting a burner for each compartment, said burners being in aline'ment transversely of the frames, and a source of supply for fuel ing to the burners.

with the lane of the under pressure on the carriage and deliver- 3. A device of the character specified comprlsmg' a wheel supported mam frame, .an auxiliary framehinged at the front of the main frame beneath the same and having shoes or runners at its rear end adapted to run upon the ground, a pair of plates at the rear of the auxiliary frame and connected therewith, said Plates being parallel rame and with each other an spaced apart and connectedby inclined. connecting plates dividing the space between'thmfirst named plates into a series of substantially triangular compartments open at their top compartments having their :apices forward and the intermediate their spices rearward. i Y 4; A device of the character specified comraft opening and a damper each compartment ani. the compartment. y

7 A device of the cl aracter specified com prising a series of bu rners, means for sup porting and moving the burners, means for directing the flames from the burners and for spreading: andseparating the grass to facilitate comprising a. pair of p [ates one arranged burners, and in inclined position beand bottom, the alternate compartments having prising. a wheel supported main frame an auxiliary frame hinged at the front of the main frame beneath the same and having shoes or runners at its rear end adapted to run upon'the grounc apair of-plates at the rear of the auxihary frame. and connected therewith, said plates being parallel with the plane of the frame and with each other, and spaced apartanl connected by inclined connecting plates dividing the space between the first named plates into a series of substantially triangular compartments open at their top and bottom, the alternate- I lliary frame hingedthereto at the front of the main frame and laving a series of burning compartments a1 therear end thereof und and i and adapted to run upon the open at the top and bottom, a urner supported by the auxiliary frame at each compartment and deliveiing through the compartment, the compai 'tments being substantially triangular in shape, and the alternate compartments having, their apices in the opposite direction to the intermediate com: partmentsand the 10 er edges of the compartments engaging the grass to separate and support the same i 6. A device of the c iaracteri specified com prising awheel sup orted frame, an auxiliary frame hinged thereto at the front of the main frame and h: wing a series of burning compartments at the rearend thereof and adapted to engage and run upon the ground to separate aid suplpgrt the grass and open at the top and burner supported by the auxiliary frame at delivering through access of tho flames thereto, and

front and one in rear of the partitions arranged tween the first named 1 lates andat ap roximatelgeright angles to each other, an V rtions ing inclined wit in respect to the fi nt and the rear plates.

I BUILR' C. RUSSELL.

D. Yomm, Geo. E. TOOILIL ttom, and a 

